Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
England bowler Gus Atkinson He is happy to fly under the radar as he prepares for his first taste of Ashes cricket.
Surrey The seamer has made a promising start to his Test career, taking 63 wickets at 22.07 in just 13 matches, but he has attracted little attention in the build-up to Friday’s first Test.
With live surface expected at Perth Stadium, England likely to field express quick pair jofra archer And Mark Wood has dominated the build-up for the second time in red-ball cricket.
And the soft-spoken Atkinson – who took 12 wickets on debut, bagging a hat-trick against New Zealand last winter and eight in his previous outing against India – is content to stay out of the firing line.
He said, “I’m not sure it’s a mistake… That’s been happening in the background so far in my career and I don’t mind it.”
“Jofra and Woody are amazing bowlers and they will be huge for us in this series. You’ve heard about it (Tests in Australia) in the past and it’s all ‘pace, pace, pace’, but we’re hearing a bit more seam movement recently. For me personally, it’s good to hear. It’s something I’m looking forward to.”
Asked if this trip was the biggest challenge he has ever experienced in the international game, Atkinson didn’t hesitate.
“Yes, 100 percent,” he said.
“It feels like we have been preparing for this series for a while now, ever since I have been in the team, so it will be a big test for all of us.
“I’m really excited. The build-up has obviously been big but it’s the Ashes: it’s huge. Growing up you’re always looking at it, so to be here Australia A bit unrealistic.”
England are hopeful of ending the dire run of results, having failed to win a single match in their last three tours.
- 2013/14 – 5–0 defeat
- 2017/18 – 4–0 defeat
- 2021/22 – 4-0 defeat
But Atkinson is one of 11 players in the 16-man squad who are playing for the first time and have no bad memories.
He said, “I think there are some of us who have not played a Test match in Australia so there is no stigma for me.”
“We’ve obviously got players who have played a lot, like Rooty and Stokesy, and we can speak to them, but I think it’s a good thing that some of us are not coming here with a lot of experience.”
England were taking up the second training slot on Wednesday, with Wood set to undergo another big workout in the nets as he aims to prove his fitness for selection.